We at Edible Skinny were recovering from
our time at Burning Man (more on that later!!!) so we unfortunately missed the
Baguette Battle LA 2016.But we are
delighted to announce the winner of Los Angeles’ evening of discovery of the
city’s best baguette was François Hiegel of Bouchon, who has now become
the official bread sponsor of Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills!

After two successful editions in New York and Miami,
hundreds of Francophiles and Fine Cuisine lovers gathered this time in Los
Angeles for the Baguette Battle, an evening focusing on crispy bread that
crackles like a symphony.

Sponsored by Norwegian, Île de France, Cacao Noël
& Château d'Esclans, the finalists of French Morning’s readers’ poll went
head-to-ahead at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.The coveted title of Best Baguette in Los
Angeles had nine of LA’s best bakers competing for diplomas and include bakers
from Bouchon (the winner), Boulangerie de Paris, Bread
Lounge, Clark Street Bread, Figaro, Frogs Organic
Bakery, Larder Baking Co., Pitchoun and Porto's Bakery.

Photo by EDLT Photography

Audience members from the event interacted with the
bakers in the fashionably elegant Beverly Ballroom at Sofitel Los Angeles,
which had been transformed into an expansive boulangerie with baguettes and
breads of all sizes and flavors along with numerous options of French wine and
cheese.Event-goers were able to follow
the jury's deliberations by tasting all the baguettes and breads as this
Francophile evening unfurled.

Throughout the evening, seven judges had the difficult
task of deciding the winners of a fiercely contested battle expertly set up for
a blind taste test that judged each entry on six specific criteria, including
flavor and the structure of the baguette.

French Consulate Christophe Lemoine had the honor
of announcing the overall Grand Prix Award to François Hiegel of
Bouchon to become the official bread provider for the Sofitel Los Angeles
at Beverly Hills.Antoine Winckler,
Hotel Manager of Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, awarded Ran Zimon
of Bread Lounge the diploma for Specialty Bread.

Photo by EDLT Photography

Sofitel Los Angeles and French Morning’s collaboration
for the event embraces a deep commitment to inspiring guests and the community
with French art de vivre and Gastronomy.Additionally, the initiative represents Sofitel Los Angeles’s commitment
to culturally unique experiences that reflect the brand’s founding pillars:
French Culture, Gastronomy and Design.

So here’s to life being delicious, symphonies of bread
crackles, and finally being able to take that perfect baguette bite.